Manuel questionable for Clemson

Garry Smits

Thursday

Sep 22, 2011 at 8:28 PM

Florida State's depth on offense will be tested Saturday at Clemson. The team's injury report released Thursday night shows two wide receivers and an offensive guard out, two more wide receivers questionable and starting quarterback EJ Manuel also questionable.

The good news is that coach Jimbo Fisher didn't rule Manuel out for the game. Manuel bruised his left (non-throwing) shoulder last week against Oklahoma and has yet to practice this week with backup Clint Trickett getting all of the reps with the first team.

Normally a player who did not take a snap in practice would not play. But Fisher said earlier in the week that he would not hesitate to play Manuel against the 21st-ranked Tigers (3-0) in Death Valley if he believed Manuel was healthy enough to go.

No. 11 FSU (2-1) hasn't beaten Clemson at Death Valley since 2001. The game will be 3:30 p.m. (ESPN).

Two players listed as questionable, wide receivers Bert Reed (ankle) and Kenny Shaw (concussion) were able to practice Thursday. Reed's status will be a game-time decision. Fisher was especially encouraged about Shaw, who was knocked out of the Oklahoma game with a wicked hit by two players.

"It was very encouraging," Fisher said of Shaw. "He was moving around pretty good; played the whole practice. He looked fresh."

Also questionable will be cornerback Greg Reid (ankle) who was hurt early in the game against the Sooners. Listed as out are wide receivers Jared Haggins (broken hand), Willie Haulstead (concussion) and Josh Gehres (knee), and guard Henry Olerus (concussion).

Fisher believes Trickett, a red-shirt freshman who is the son of offensive line coach Rick Trickett, will be able to run the offense. Trickett led the Semninoles back from a 13-3 third-quarter deficit against the Sooners and tied the game at 13-13 with a 56-yard TD pass to Rashad Greene - on third-and-28.

"There may be things he does differently than EJ in terms of what he likes and doesn't like, but he [Trickett] knows all of what's going on," Fisher said.

Strong safety Nick Moody appears to have recovered completely from a quad injury that cost him two games.

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